Shoe sole comprising injected bars

Abstract

A shoe sole (1) comprising an outsole (3), an insole (2) and a midsole (5) which extends between the insole (2) and the outsole (3), the midsole (5) being composed of a plurality of bars (6) which are substantially transversal and are aligned substantially longitudinally over the length of the sole, the insole (2) and the bars are composed of an elastomeric material.

Claims

1. A shoe sole comprising an outsole, an insole, and a midsole which extends between the insole and the outsole, the midsole being composed of a plurality of bars which are arranged lengthwise of the sole, the insole, the bars and the outsole being composed of an elastomeric material, the bars being fixed on one side against a lower surface of the insole and on another side against an upper surface of the outsole, the outsole forming, between the bars, a plurality of elastic areas, at least part of which comprises a fold, wherein the bars are formed by a succession of folds and counter folds of a leaf of rubber material, such that all the bars are in one piece, wherein, in use, when a user applies a first level of mechanical load, the folds are unfolded, thereby causing a first level of deformation of the bars, and when the user applies a second level of mechanical load, greater than the first level of mechanical load, the elastic areas are deformed elastically by stretching the elastomeric material, thereby causing a second level of deformation of the bars, greater than the first level of deformation, and wherein the first and second levels of deformation of the bars allow a progressive crushing of the sole according to an intensity of force exerted by the user.

2. The shoe sole according to claim 1, wherein each bar is formed by an arrangement of two walls which are arranged in close proximity to one another.

3. The shoe sole according to claim 1, wherein the outsole is produced in one piece with the bars of the midsole.

4. The shoe sole according to claim 1, wherein the elastic areas are produced in one piece with the bars.

5. The shoe sole according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the bars are substantially transversal.

6. The shoe sole according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the bars are substantially longitudinal.

7. The shoe sole according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the bars are aligned at an angle which is included between 0° and 90° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sole.

8. The shoe sole according to claim 1, wherein the sole comprises several sets of bars including a set of substantially transversal bars and a set of substantially longitudinal bars.

9. The shoe sole according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said bars are interrupted in the middle portion of the sole.

10. A shoe comprising a sole according to claim 1.

11. The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein the first and second levels of deformation, when exposed to the effects of a first level of mechanical load originating from the foot of the user, permit the folds of the outsole to be deployed, causing a first level of elongation, and, when exposed to the effects of a second level of mechanical load originating from the foot, greater than the first level of mechanical load, allow the material of the elastic areas to be deformed by stretching, causing a second level of elongation of the outsole, greater than the first level of elongation.

12. The shoe sole of claim 11, wherein the two levels of elongation allow for progressive crushing of the sole, according to the intensity of the mechanical load exerted by a user.

13. The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein the second level of deformation of the bars corresponds to a total collapse of at least some of the bars.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) All the details for realization are given in the following description, supplemented by FIGS. 1 to 6 which are provided solely for non-limiting illustrative purposes, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first example of a sole according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2A is a front view of the sole in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a portion of the sole in FIG. 2A;

(5) FIG. 3A is a view from below of the sole in FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 3B is a view from below of another embodiment of the outsole and the midsole;

(7) FIG. 4 is a view from below of an example of the sole without the insole;

(8) FIG. 5 is a view from below of just the insole;

(9) FIG. 6 is a view from below of another embodiment of the sole (without the insole).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3A, the shoe sole 1 comprises classically an outsole 3, an insole 2 and a midsole 5. This latter extends between the insole 2 and the outsole 3. The midsole 5 is composed of a plurality of bars 6. In said embodiment, the bars 6 are substantially transversal. The bars 6 can be continuous or discontinuous from one side to the other of the sole. In said example, the sole always comprises a plurality of bars which are aligned in succession from the area of the heel to the area provided to be situated under the shoe-upper. The alignment can be regular or irregular, according to the embodiments.

(11) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3B, the sole comprises multiple sets of bars 6. One set consists of a group of bars which are substantially parallel. 3 sets of bars can be seen in said example. A first set 9 in the area of the heel, in which the bars are substantially transversal, a second set 10 in which the bars are arranged at an angle alpha of about 60° with respect to the longitudinal axis L-L of the sole, and one set 11, right at the front of the sole, in which the bars are substantially longitudinal. In said example, the area 10 is provided between the areas 9 and 11. According to various variants, the number of areas and their respective arrangement vary according to the technical characteristics and/or the visual effects desired.

(12) In the examples shown, the bars are formed by a succession of folds and counter folds of a leaf of rubber material, such that all the bars are in one piece.

(13) More particularly, as is easily visible in FIGS. 1, 2A and more particularly 2B, each bar is formed by the arrangement of two walls 7 which are arranged at close proximity to one another. Said arrangement allows a good level of rigidity to be obtained with walls that are relatively thin so as to allow a very light sole to be thus obtained.

(14) To make up the sole, the bars are fixed on one side against the lower surface of the insole 2, and on the other side against the upper surface of the outsole 3.

(15) Finally, the outsole 3 forms, between the bars, a plurality of elastic areas 4, at least some of which comprises a fold 8, forming a reserve of material. The elastic areas 4, and more particularly the folds 8 allow for two types of deformation of the outsole 3.

(16) First of all, at the start of the mechanical load, the elastic areas are deformed plastically by unfolding the folds 8. Said first level allows for partial weakening of the bars.

(17) Then, progressively, when the mechanical load continues and/or increases in intensity, the elastic areas are deformed elastically by stretching the elastomeric material. Said second level allows the weakening of the bars to be continued up to possibly reaching total collapse of some or all of the bars, according to the distribution of the force of the foot. In use, the two levels of weakening of the bars allow for progressive crushing of the sole, according to the intensity of the force exerted by the user. The two levels are advantageously controlled so as to obtain progressive deformation of the sole. The presence of a plurality of bars substantially close to one another allows the user to benefit from continuous support, without any fits and starts, for great comfort.

(18) FIGS. 4 and 6 are views from below of examples of soles, shown without the insole. FIG. 5 is a view from below of just the insole.

PRODUCTION

(19) The insole 2, the bars 6 and the outsole 3 are obtained by injection, preferably using a single injectable material. A composition or an elastomeric mixture is used in an advantageous manner.

(20) The elastic areas 4 are produced in one piece with the outsole 3 which is itself produced in one piece with the bars 6 of the midsole 5. All these elements are advantageously produced in one piece with the insole 2.

(21) The sole is realized in an advantageous manner by means of injection. As a variant, the sole is realized in an advantageous manner by the addition of material (commonly referred to as “3D printing”). Said method of production allows very complicated designs to be realized, in one single step.

(22) The two processes above allow the industrialization of soles to be automated, with considerable cost savings. Furthermore, the sole is realized in one single step, in contrast to classic soles which require several operations one after another and a large workforce. Thanks to these advantages, the soles can be produced close to the point of consumption. It is thus possible to speed up the stages of placing the products on the market significantly and to reduce transport costs as well as harmful emissions.

REFERENCE NUMBERS USED IN THE FIGURES

(23) 1 Sole 2 Insole 3 Outsole 4 Elastic areas 5 Midsole 6 Bars 7 Wall 8 Fold (or reserve of elastic material) 9 Area with substantially transversal bars 10 Area with bars at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis L-L 11 Area with substantially longitudinal bars